11th September 2025- Breakfast with Benjamin Davis - Former CEO of Fund Management at Octopus Investments

About the event

From IQ to EQ: Leadership, Impact, and the Future of Investment
(with Benjamin Davis, Former CEO of Octopus Investments, CJBS MBA Alum 2003)

Synopsis:
As leaders climb higher in their careers, functional intelligence becomes less of a differentiator—emotional intelligence takes centre stage. In this candid conversation, Benjamin Davis reflects on his journey from technology consulting to the helm of Octopus Investments, a trailblazing B Corp in the finance sector with £10bn under management across real estate, renewable energy, venture capital and sustainable infrastructure. Drawing on his experience as a CJBS MBA alum 2003 and current advisory board member, Benjamin will explore the critical transitions in his career path, how the MBA empowered him to pivot industries, and what it takes to lead with purpose in today’s rapidly evolving investment landscape.

This interactive talk will delve into the intersection of profit and sustainability—can investment firms truly deliver both impact and returns? What does it mean to operate as a B Corp in finance, and how are firms like Octopus reshaping industry expectations? Benjamin will also share insights on how the investment world is responding to global shifts in ESG priorities, and what future leaders must develop beyond IQ to lead successfully through uncertainty and change.


Benjamin is the former CEO of Fund Management at Octopus Investments, who had responsibility for Octopus Real Estate, Sustainable Infrastructure, the Quoted Smaller Companies team, Octopus Australia and Corporate Development. He joined Octopus in 2010 and has broad experience in institutional and retail fund management, working across multiple institutional and retail investment funds, including leading the Octopus Apollo VCT. He led the Octopus Healthcare, and then Octopus Real Estate teams for 6 years, chairing its Investment Committee.
Prior to Octopus, Benjamin invested across a range of sectors at YFM Equity Partners and Interregnum, and previously worked in technology and consulting. Ben has an MBA from Judge Business School, University of Cambridge (where he now serves on the Advisory Board) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Speaker gift kindly sponsored by Babich Wines.